Kontum Gia Lai, a city located in the highlands of Central Vietnam is known for its brutal and horrendous winters. Not only is the weather serve for the people who live here, but the majority of Kontum’s population is extremely poor and disadvantaged. It is impossible to fully explain the struggles and lifestyle that the Kontum people, especially the children live through, during the harsh wintertime. A group of generous Sisters who serve the poor in Vietnam have reached out to HONG-AN Charity Non-Profit Organization in hope that the organization can help these underprivileged children’s wishes come true.

If you have the chance to visit Kontum during the wintertime, you will be in disbelief at what you see, especially the children’s plight of suffering and misery both in their homes and in the frigid weather. In the harsh, cold, frosty climate of the mountain forests, these children still walk barefoot to school, with their teeth chattering, their faces pale and purple from freezing, and their bodies shivering uncontrollably underneath their thin clothing items. Many of these children are absent from school during the winter, because their lack of shoes and warm clothing make the walk to school unbearable. Since there are no heaters in the classrooms, they cannot focus in class because they’re continuously rocking back and forth to stay warm. Some of the children even bundle up with their classmates in order to keep each other warm. The Sisters who witnessed this heart wrenching experience noted that when the children were asked what they wished for, NONE of them asked for toys. Every child wish was to own a warm coat or jacket so they can walk to school to learn and play with their friends.

As the Sisters spent more time with the children and their families, they observed that the children were also suffering from the cold inside the home. The children’s home visits brought the Sisters to tears. The houses are shacks built from unstable materials such as clay, tree branches and mud that often deteriorate with time, blown away or destroyed by natural disasters. The homes are not decorated or furnished and are mostly empty except for a self-made bonfire in the corner to cook with. Some of the children had burn wounds on their bodies, and when asked where and how they got burned; they answered that the burns came from the fire that their parents made at home to keep them warm. At night, the temperature drops, and the poor families sleep on the cement or dirt floor. The parents make a bonfire to keep the whole family warm, but it’s so cold that everyone sleeps very close to the fire, and sometimes the fire burns them if they’re not careful. These innocent sweet children are also so selfless. The children stated that if they owned one thick warm jacket and/or a blanket, they would share these gifts of warmth and comfort with their families, and that will make their dream and wish come true. These children simply long to stay warm at night so they and their families can sleep peacefully without suffering burns.

The plight of these children is why we need your help. Please donate and spread the word about this great need. With the winter holiday season approaching, many lives can be touched when we help those who cannot help themselves. We are fortunate to have food on the table, a bed to sleep on, and clothes to keep us warm. Meanwhile in Kontum, the children are suffering in the freezing cold. With a gift of only $10, we can bring joy and warmth to a desperate child in need. $10 will provide a warm jacket or a blanket for a Kontum child in need for many years. For us, $10 is the price of a simple meal, but for a Kontum child, our gift is the key to the brighter future built on warmth, safety and ability to participate in school in winter months. We are truly blessed and can easily give up so many things we don’t need to give $10 to these poor children. They will forever be grateful and appreciative of our help.

These children are so happy when they see the Sisters who they consider their guardian angels, because few others have ever shown them any concern. It is extremely heartbreaking and difficult to understand what these children endure during the intolerable cold wintertime. Imagine living like these children, waking up with the stress and anxiety of how to stay warm in order to survive that day. We are not asking for a big donation, simply $10 for outerwear or a blanket to keep these poor children warm. Please help a Kontum child in need and donate so we can provide them with jackets and blankets. Let us come together in this gift giving season in the spirit of true love and concern for these children. You will be doing so much more than making a donation, you will be making a difference in these beautiful young lives.

Please share this GoFundMe page with your family, friends, and peers.

Together, we can make a difference and change a Kontum child’s life forever.

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